39th Annual Federal Sector Labor Relations & Labor Law Conference
Format: Two-day Virtual Conference*
Tuesday, September 21, 2021 | 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 | 10:00 AM - 1:50 PM
Join top government officials & policymakers, world-class management-side attorneys & union representatives, and leading academics for this virtual conference, held over two days, to learn about the future of the federal workplace and workforce in light of the global pandemic and the new federal administration.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Tuesday, September 21
10:00 – 10:05am Welcome and Announcements
10:05 – 10:35am Opening Plenary Address: The Federal Labor Relations Authority - Past, Present, and Future?
The Chairman offers his perspectives on the FLRA, its mission, and the unique attributes
of federal-sector labor-management relations.
- Ernie DuBester, Chairman, Federal Labor Relations Authority
10:35 –10:40am BREAK
10:40 – 11:40am Opening Plenary Panel: Moving Forward in the New Administration
In this session the panelists will be examining the state of federal sector labor law through discussions of recent White House transitions, including how the policies, practices, and experiences of the Obama and Trump presidencies inform the Biden administration’s perspectives on executive orders, task forces, and union engagement.
- Todd Dickey, Assistant Professor, Public Administration and International Affairs, Syracuse University
- Everett Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees
- Michael Oswalt, Interim Director - Institute for Law and the Workplace, Chicago-Kent College of Law (Moderator)
- Robert Shriver, Associate Director for Employee Services, Office of Personnel Management
11:40 –11:50am BREAK
11:50am – 1:20pm Administrative Forums Update (EEOC, FLRA, MSPB):
The panelists will discuss:
- A sampling of recent federal sector EEOC decisions of note and discuss their impact.
- The operations and recent activities of the FLRA’s Office of the General Counsel.
- Three Administrative Judges from the MSPB's Central Regional Office will discuss case-law
developments from the past year--covering the reasoning of significant cases and discussing their
impact on practice before the Board.
- Jennifer M. Cassell, Administrative Judge, Merit Systems Protection Board
- Daniel R. Fine, Administrative Judge, Merit Systems Protection Board
- Michael Rhoades, Administrative Judge, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Mary Senoo, Administrative Judge, Merit Systems Protection Board
- Greg Weddle, Acting Regional Director, Federal Labor Relations Authority
1:20 – 1:30pm BREAK
1:30 – 2:30pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS
The sessions in this time slot do not qualify for CLE credit. No CLE credit will be earned for viewing.
Navigating the Complexities of Title 5 Leave Provisions
This session will cover employee some of the complex aspects of leave under 5 USC 63, including thorny questions such as when annual leave must be approved regardless of work requirements, how definitions of family members differ between sick leave and FMLA, and when medical documentation of a family member’s serious health condition must be submitted for approval of sick leave. The session will also address excessive leave actions and what types of leave may be counted in such a charge.
- Barbara Haga, President, Federal HR Services
Your Divided Attention Please! A Guide to Convening in Virtual and Hybrid Format
In this session, the speaker will discuss:
- How do attention, empathy and trust show up differently through screens, according to cognitive
research?
- What gifts and gaps are present when convening in virtual rooms?
- Best practices and resources for convening virtual and hybrid ADR sessions
- Kimberly Koch-Hult, Conflict Management and Prevention Center Manager - Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Wednesday, September 22
10:00 – 11:30am On the Road to Reconstitution: Lessons from the Pandemic for Agencies and Unions
The panelists in this session will explore Federal agencies’ response to the pandemic, including the effects of the EEO laws, especially the Americans with Disabilities Act but also Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- Carol Miaskoff, Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Lisa Ramos, Director of Learning and Development, National Treasury Employees Union
- Jeff Rosenblum, Acting Chief Human Capital Officer, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
11:30 – 11:40am BREAK
11:40am – 12:40pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Workplace Reentry and Emerging Telework Issues
The panel will discuss the issues and considerations facing agencies, unions, supervisors
and employees concerning telework and the return to the traditional workplace setting as
Agencies submit their plans for telework moving forward to the Office of Management and
Budget.
- Peggy V. Hatcher, Director - Region 3, Federal Managers Association
- Mike McAuley, National Counsel, National Treasury Employees Union
- Jeff Neal, Principal, ChiefHRO, LLC
Facilitating Meetings for All Voices to Be Heard
Meetings can be useful for gathering and sharing information, provided that people are willing to participate. Despite the best intentions of meeting organizers, there are many reasons why people feel uncomfortable speaking at gatherings. This session will explore the factors that influence how people participate in meetings and discuss some basic techniques to ensure that as many voices as possible contribute to the conversation.
- Sean Nolon, ADR Counsel, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
12:40 – 12:50pm BREAK
12:50 – 1:50pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Nuts and Bolts of Virtual Hearings
Panelists will discuss their experiences pivoting to the virtual environment during the COVID-19 pandemic for hearings in several fora, including arbitration, MSPB, EEO and mediation. Panelists will provide best practice tips to successfully virtually navigate these procedures.
- Jeanne Charles, Arbitrator and Mediator, National Academy of Arbitrators Board of Governors
- Adam G. Eisenstein, Assistant General Counsel, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice
- Julie A. Lenggenhager, Assistant Counsel, National Treasury Employees Union
- David Lidow, Administrative Judge, Merit Systems Protection Board
- Daniel C. Mullenix, Program Coordinator, Shared Neutrals ADR Program, Chicago Federal Executive Board
Mental Health Concerns in Light of the Pandemic
In this session, panelists will discuss the following topics:
- Trauma: Due to the inherent risk factors for well-being in the legal profession, lawyers are more
likely to be suffering trauma. This session will challenge participants to question their preconceived
notions about trauma and equips them to better identify it in themselves and in their fellow lawyers.
- Suicide and the COVID-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced some of the most
challenging circumstances in modern history for individuals, families, employers and employees
world-wide, posing higher risk for suicide world-wide. This session fosters a clearer understanding
of suicide and how attorneys can help themselves, their clients and their colleagues or employees.
- Chelsy A. Castro, Psychotherapist and Performance Coach, Castro Jacobs Psychotherapy and Consulting
- Kent A. Corso, Program Manager, Suicide Prevention & Awareness Psychologist, Customs and Border Protection
Click here for information about our Speakers
*All sessions are pre-recorded video content along with real-time speaker interaction available via live chat room throughout each session.
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION CREDITS
This conference is eligible for 6.5 hours of General CLE credit in 60-minute states, and 7.8 hours of General CLE credit in 50-minute states.
Mental Health in Light of the Pandemic session is eligible for 1.0 hours of Mental Illness Awareness credit in 60-minute states, and 1.2 hours of Mental Illness Awareness credit in 50-minute states.
Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.
Chicago-Kent College of Law will seek accreditation for this conference in the following states: CA, IL, IN, MO, NY, OH, PA, TX, and WI.
States typically decide whether a program qualifies for MCLE credit in their jurisdiction 4-8 weeks after the program application is submitted. For many live events, credit approval is not received prior to the program.
TO RECEIVE CLE CREDIT: If you have met the participation requirements, you will receive a personalized CLE affidavit from mcle@americanbar.org within 48 hours after the conclusion of the virtual conference. Please check your spam or junk folders as these emails often end up there. Please note you have to fill out one affidavit for the entire virtual conference. Once you complete the affidavit, you will be able to download your certificate(s) of attendance and they will be emailed to you as well from mcle@americanbar.org.
CONFERENCE PRICING
| Early Registration: through 7/31/21 | Regular Registration: 8/1 - 9/10/21 | Late Registration: 9/11 - 9/21/21 | |
| Individual | $200/person | $225/person | $250/person |
| Group* | $150/person | $150/person | $150/person |
* Register five or more individuals, in one transaction, to qualify for the group rate. The discount will be applied to your cart during checkout.
QUESTIONS? WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
CONTACT THE OFFICE OF CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
CONTACT US: EMAIL cle@kentlaw.iit.edu | PHONE 312.906.5090
UPCOMING EVENTS
|
12/3 |
37th Annual Illinois Public Sector Labor Relations Law Conference |